In the conventional sense, a tribe is described as a social
and/or cultural group who have something in common. Urban Dictionary approaches
the word with a more contemporary viewpoint; “A group of friends that become
your family. The people that will be there for you no matter what…”
The Healing Tribe, a new Windham non-profit organization
established approximately one year ago, offers free massage, energy therapy,
and Bowenwork®* as complementary service to those in need who are engaged in
traditional treatment and analysis and suffer from anxiety, depression, and/or
chronic pain. The Healing Tribe is like a group of friends who will be there
for those who most need it but cannot afford it.
“The Healing Tribe is a group of massage therapists, energy
workers and a Bowenwork® practitioner that work in conjunction with social
workers and other clinicians who recommend alternative therapies to their
clients in order to help aid the process of recovery and emotional healing,”
explained Lisa DeFosse of Windham, the brainchild of the non-profit. “There are
a number of individuals who can afford the healing benefits of massage, energy
therapy and Bowenwork®.
However, there are many others who could gain
additional recovery and therapeutic advantages from alternative medical
practices who cannot afford it. That is where The Healing Tribe comes in.”
This is not the first time DeFosse has participated in the
complementary therapy concept. When she was working as a massage therapist in
Saco, she worked alongside a grant funded program that provided the same
services as The Healing Tribe offers today in the greater Windham area. “When I
worked for that program, it felt very rewarding to help people heal on a deeper level. I was amazed at how body and energy work assisted in the healing of the more conventional and clinical therapies.”
worked for that program, it felt very rewarding to help people heal on a deeper level. I was amazed at how body and energy work assisted in the healing of the more conventional and clinical therapies.”
DeFosse, who is certified in massage therapy and Bowenwork®,
now owns her own business in Windham. She wanted to bring the same experience
and opportunity to the Lakes Region.
“Since we have begun working with the medical professionals,
clinicians are telling us they see positive results,” DeFosse said. “It helps
make the client more relaxed and breaks down walls. As a result, the individual
is able to speak more clearly about the issues they face and are able to
approach it in a more mindful manner.”
Some participants in the program have been in chronic pain
and experienced migraines for many years. In one case, an individual saw
changes within in three weeks after receiving services from The Healing Tribe.
She has eliminated a majority of her pain medications and is now able to sleep
through www.thehealingtribe.com.)
the night. The headaches are gone. (For more testimonials, go to The Healing Tribe website at
the night. The headaches are gone. (For more testimonials, go to The Healing Tribe website at
In the event the massage, energy work and Bowenwork® open
unexpected emotional discomfort that may require immediate clinical therapy,
The Healing Tribe practitioners are able to communicate directly with the
clinicians. “We are prepared in the event that deep emotional wounds may
surface,” explained DeFosse. “This is a safe environment, and everyone involved
is dedicated in taking the best quality care for all clients.”
The massage and other healing modalities, offered free of
charge, doesn’t come without a cost.
“Bodywork practitioners are very skilled, educated and passionate
about offering their services, but it is very costly to do so for free,”
DeFosse stated. “Bodyworkers must keep up and continue education credits and
meet state certifications, must pay for office rent or mortgage and this
service is most often their primary source of income. As a result, The Healing
Tribe raises funds and is in the process of writing grants in order to pay
those therapists who offer the ‘free’ service.”
One newly established annual fundraising event to help with
the cost of this free service is a spaghetti dinner and silent auction that
will take place next Friday, October 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the
Windham Veterans Center, 35 Memorial Drive. The dinner will include a salad,
garlic bread and
dessert. The cost for the dinner is $8 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under.
dessert. The cost for the dinner is $8 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under.
If you are unable to make the event, you can make a
financial donation to The Healing Tribe at www.thehealingtribe.com.
For more information, contact Lisa DeFosse at healingtribemaine@gmail.com.
*According to AmericanBowen.Academy, Bowenwork® is a
system of touch that initiates a series of responses through stimulation of the
nervous, musculoskeletal, and fascial systems and the energetic pathways.
Practitioners perform a sequence of small movements on specific points on the
body, interspersed with rest periods.